Future Fuzz - The Digital Marketing Podcast Ep. 155 - Building Marketing Departments from Zero in Staffing - Heidi Howell
In this episode of Future Fuzz, host Vince Quinn talks with Heidi Howell, Director of Marketing at Core Medical Group, about building marketing departments from the ground up — especially in an industry like staffing, where marketing has historically been under‑developed. Heidi shares her unique journey from early beginnings in recruitment and staffing marketing to leading teams, her philosophy on personal grounding and growth, and how she structures training and skill‑building to create high‑performing teams. This conversation explores balancing B2B and B2C marketing needs, prioritizing hires, and cultivating an adaptive, learning‑first culture.
Guest Bio
Heidi Howell is the Director of Marketing at Core Medical Group, bringing over a decade of experience in staffing marketing. She has built marketing functions from scratch across multiple organizations and holds deep expertise in both client acquisition and recruitment (B2B and B2C) strategies. Heidi’s passion lies in continuous learning, team development, and building marketing operations that generate revenue and empower people to grow professionally.
Key Takeaways
- Marketing in staffing — especially recruitment marketing — is a relatively new discipline that’s rapidly growing.
- Balancing B2B (clients) and B2C (candidates) requires clear prioritization and flexibility.
- Knowing who you are — both as a person and as a marketer — helps ground you amid fast‑changing demands.
- Training isn’t optional — Heidi embeds ongoing learning into weekly routines to upskill her team.
- Strong collaborative team structures — where the leader works with the team — unlock sustained performance and growth.
- Empowering team members to learn, present, and implement new skills drives both individual careers and organizational success.
Chapters
00:00 — Intro + Welcome to Heidi
00:27 — What is Core Medical Group & Heidi’s Role
01:02 — Evolution of Marketing in Staffing
02:28 — B2B vs. B2C Marketing Challenges
02:53 — Starting a Marketing Department from Scratch
04:11 — Chaos + Adaptability in Marketing
04:48 — Grounding Strategies for Marketers
07:09 — Knowing Yourself + Personal Development
08:50 — Hiring First Roles in a New Team
10:05 — Training & Upskilling Culture
12:32 — Friday Learning + Tuesday Sharing Routine
14:44 — Why Structured Training Matters
16:56 — Recruitment Marketing Origins
18:24 — Early Work in Recruitment Marketing
19:20 — Team Success Outcomes
21:36 — How to Connect with Heidi
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𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 KEYWORDS: #MarketingLeadership #MarketingStrategy #StaffingMarketing #RecruitmentMarketing #TeamDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ContinuousLearning #B2B #B2C #MarketingDepartment #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment